News

Superintendent Says Oakland Unified Must Downsize

Thu, 09/5/2019

The superintendent of Oakland Unified is urging members of the school board to move forward on campus closures that would save about $2 million over the next five years.

The highly controversial plan entails shuttering/merging one school in North Oakland, consolidating two other middle schools, and expanding or redoing two more. If approved, that plan would be implemented next year, according to EdSource.

That’s a big if. At Wednesday’s school board meeting, hundreds of parents and community advocates showed up to protest the idea.

“This level of change is difficult and complex. There are no easy answers, but this will result in more well-resourced schools across the city.”

A Citywide Plan recently approved by the board found that OUSD could close or merge 24 of its schools. However, member Roseann Torres cited a study showing school closures do little to save districts money unless they’re accompanied by mass layoffs.